Movie theaters are set for a major boost this weekend as “Wicked: For Good” is projected to earn a towering sum. This is especially good news for exhibitors, who did not see a single blockbuster hit in October or most of November.
According to Variety, the film is expected to bring in $150M–$180M over the opening weekend from 4,000+ screens—an incredible launch following a rough fall at the box office. By comparison, last year’s “Wicked” earned $112M over the same period.
If the sequel reaches the higher end of that range, it could claim the year’s biggest opening, surpassing “A Minecraft Movie” ($162M), “Lilo & Stitch” ($146M), and “Superman” ($125M).
Both ‘Wicked’ movies were produced by Universal and shot back-to-back in 2023, costing a combined $300M, not including the sizable marketing budgets. The first instalment grossed $758M worldwide, and despite more lukewarm reviews for the sequel, it’s likely to exceed that total.